Local best-selling author bonds with English kids

LYNN – With her newest title “Deadly Little Secret” storming onto the Barnes and Noble Best Seller List just weeks after its release, local author Laurie Faria Stolarz spoke at Lynn English High School Tuesday, the latest in the school library’s author series.Stolarz, a Salem native and Marblehead resident, released her seventh and most recent title in late December, again appealing to the young adult crowd that made her “Blue is for Nightmares” series popular.The latest novel focuses on a character with the ability to see into people’s minds simply by touching them, and the challenges that ensue when he saves the life of a girl who is about to be hit by a car.Adding to the success of the novel is a contest Stolarz is running on her Web site, where fans can create a music playlist to accompany the book. Winners of the contest will have a character named after them in the novel’s sequel, due out in the fall.The visit Tuesday was the second in as many years for the author, who has become popular with students in the LEHS library book club and several of the school’s English courses.Along with promoting her book, Stolarz shared the story of her rise from mediocre business school student to successful author, and explained parts of her writing process with the students.As a child, Stolarz was always creative, embellishing her own stories with fiction and constantly coming up with new ideas. After graduating from business school, she took a master’s course in creative writing and embarked on a writing career that has made her one of the top selling young adult authors in the country.The road was not always easy for Stolarz, who says she has more than 100 rejection letters from publishing companies who reviewed her first novel, “Blue is for Nightmares.”Six years after that novel’s release, Stolarz now has a loyal and rabid fan base and has even been in discussions with Disney about turning on of her novels into a film.”I have done well,” she said. “I have been very, very lucky.”Because all of her titles are geared toward teens and young adults, Stolarz says she must completely entrench herself in teenage culture in order to be authentic, and that means watching a lot of reality TV.”I try really hard to keep up with how teens talk and the fashion, and what they are interested in,” she said. “I am online on Facebook, I watch MTV incessantly, I am addicted to teen shows. I have to be because if I am out of it, teens will call me out on it and they will know that I am not authentic.”Her dedication to living the life of a teen has translated into many adoring fans both locally and abroad. Stolarz says she receives over 100 fan emails each week, of which she answers every one.”I do (hear from LEHS students) I get about 100 fan emails every week, and I answer every single one. I am glad to see that they are still reading,” she said. “The first book came out in 2003, so my readers are aging, but that shows that I am still getting new readers, too.”Stolarz donated some signed copies of her book and a signed promotional poster for “Deadly Little Secrets” to the library, and welcomed the students to enter her contest.